Furniture construction



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,430

' T. H. WITTLIFF FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 25, 1924 IN VEN TOR.

I WwadareflM'W/iff ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

THEODORE n. WITTLIFF, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed October 25, 1924. Serial No. 745,757.

. This invention relates to furniture construction, and especially to a means for hold ing the several framemembers of an article of furniture in rigid relation to each other. The construction may be used in substitution'for the usual glue and corner blockfastening methods at present used or may be supplemental thereto. More particularly it comprises a construction wherein is included an equalizing plate or bracing de- Vice adapted to apply inward tension upon the corner posts of an article of furniture in a horizontal plane approximately midway of the .side frame members thereof, with the tension adjusting mechanism located in a plane other than that first referred to.

It is well known that various articles of furniture, particularly chairs, develop lost motion where the seat portion is connected with the legs, which gives such articles the appearance ofinsecurit-y after a comparativelyshort period of use. With chairs having cane or leather seats it is possible to apply a transverse tensioning or bracing i means directly in a horizontal plane centra lly of the seat supporting side members so that the tension upon the leg. members will be normal to the ends of said side members. This form of furniture brace is covered in my co-pending application, Serial No. 285,429, filed March 3, 1924. Such form of brace, however, is not adapted for use with upholstered furniture wherein a series of coil springs serve to support a padded top, inasmuch as the installation of the brace would interferewith the spring action if it were possible to insert said brace at the usual place.

' The principal object of the present invention is to provide a brace which may be used in a variety of places, for example, be-

neath the seat of an upholstered chair, in a bedstead provided with a box spring or under a table equipped with drawers, and

.' which will apply tension to the corner posts of said article of furniture in substantially as effective a manner as abrace located in a horizontal plane centrally of the main side frame members, and at the same time will not interfere with the positioning of the spring supports for the padded seat of a chair or the standard structure of box spring for use upon a bedstead, or the free use of the drawers of the table. Other ob jects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and re lated' ends, said nvention, then consists of the! means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawngs and the following description set forth in; detail certain mech--' anism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but severalof various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig.1 is a bottom plan view of a chair constructed in accordance with the inventon; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the corner tensioning devices of the preferred form; Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view partially in section showing the manner in which a corner plate of the type shown in Fig. 2 is engaged with a diagonally positioned corner bolt; Fig. 4; is a perspective view of a. corner plate of a modified form of construction; Fig. 5 is a'transverse sectional view showing a modified form of attaching means and corner bracing device; Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing an angle plate adapted to be secured to the inner corner of an article of furniture; Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the brace portion of the corner bracing device;

and F ig; 8 is an enlarged perspective View,

showing the top portion of the corner bracing device.

' As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the preferredform of construction comprises the corner and side frame members 1, 2, of an article of furniture'held together by means of a brace having a central tensioning device preferably comprising a turnbuckle 3, having flexible members 4L, engaged at their central portions over friction slides 5, and having their terminal portions 6 secured to bracing devices 7 connected with the corners of the article of furniture.

The corner braces of the preferred form, shown in Figs. 2, 3, of the drawing, are preferably formed of sheet metal plates having a body portion 8 of substantially rectangular shape with their lower ends 9 turned at right angles thereto. The lower ends may be of substantially triangular outline, with a. bayonet slot 11 formed therein to receive the terminal portions 6 of the flexible members of the tensioning device.

Ill)

14 ot' the plate at each side of the V-shapcd notch are preferably bent rearwardly at an angle to the body portion. and the extreme ends '15 thereof are bent into parallelism with the body portion of the plate.

The slot 13, or an equivalent construction, such as an elongated central aperture 16 formed in the plate of the modified form shown in Fig. 4, adapted to receive the end of a bolt secured to the corner post of the structure. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the corner bolt 17 is secured dia onally through the corner post 1 in a horizontal plane centrally of the main side frame members 2. The corner bolt may have a head 18 suitably formed to merge With the outer face of the corner post and at its inner end is screw-threaded to receive a nut 19. The modified form of corner plate shown in Fig. 4 is provided with widespread bearing arms :20 at its upper portion.

When the construction is applied to a chair, the usual corner blocks are dispensed with and the corner plates 7 are positioned across each of the corners of said chair with the slot 13 or central hole 16 engaged over the corner bolt.

In order to prevent slipping and ini'ovide for a firm seating of the side members 2 against the corner posts jl small angular seats or notches 21 are cut into the inner faces of the side memhers at the points where the ends 15 of the plate contact therewith. The sides 22 of the body portion of the plate are preferably tapered rhiwnwardly so that when the plate is seated against the corner structure of a piece of furniture, before the tension is applied by means of: the turnbuckle, the body portion thereof will be in clined outwardly from the vertical. at its lower end. The plates are seated in the eerners by placing the upper ends 15 of, a. plate in the notcliesfll, and engaging the slot 1?) over the bolt with the inner face of the plate bearing against. the washer 2E) and nut 19 screwing, the nuts firmly upon the bolt shanks. \Vhen thus positimied the terminal. portions of the tensioninp device are engaged into the bayonet slots in the angular portions of said respective plates and tension is ap plied to the turn-buckle until the desired d1.- gree of rigidity is obtained.

It will be noted that the nut and waslurr serve as a fulcrum and draw inwardly upon the corner bolt 17 and the corner posts l, and that through the lever action oi the plate, pressure is applied by the terminals it) against the notches ot the side members, forcing the same outwardly. Thus. the side members and the respective posts are drawn into firm contact and extreme rigidity of the article of furniture is obtained. In fact, so strong a structure is provided that the use of tached directly to said plate.

glue, or other fastening means, between the several structural members of said article oi. lurniture may be dispensed with, and the tensioning device and its associated. parts may constitute the sole means for holding, the same together.

A modified form o't bolt connection and corner bracing device is disclosed in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive. It is to he understood that the bolt connection may be used with either of the forms oi corner plates shown'in Figs.

and 4, and that the corner bracing device may be used with a bolt passing through the corner post of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. Likewise the angle plate, shown particularly in Fig. 6, is adapted for use with an eye bolt, of the character disclosed in Fig. 5, or. may serve as a point of attachment for one of the terminals of the cable connections of a tensioning device of the usual character when the same is not to be oliset below a coin tral horizontal plane through the intermediate portions otthe side frame members of an article of furniture.

The angle plate preferably comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal 21 bent to cylindrical form adjacent its intermediate ortion 2:2 and thence outwardly on each si2 to provide short intermediate sections 23 at right angles to each other and then bent re versely to said intermediate sections and at right angles thereto so as to provide fastening flanges 24 through which a plurality of screw holes 25 are formed. A transverse slot 26 is formed across the cylindrical and intermediate portions of the angle plate and adapted to receive therein the eye of a corner bolt 27 of the character shown in Fig. 5 or the loop or chain link of a tensioning cable terminal when said device is to be atlVhen the fastening element is positioned in said slot with the eye of the eye bolt or the loop of the terminal element in alignment with the cylidrical portion of the angleplate, aheaded pin 28 is placed within the cylindrical portion of the angle plate from above with its intermediate portion engaging such eye or loop. Prior to thus engaging the fastening device with the angle plate said angle plate should be securely mounted against the inner faces of the corner post 1. and side frame member 2 of the article of furniture by driving screws 29 through screw holes of the flanges of said angle plate into the inner portions of the side frame members.

The corner bracing; device shown in Figs. 5, T and 8, is particularly adapted for use with a swinging corner bolt of the type just described.- The brace portion of said corner bracing device comprises a plate Ill preterably formed of sheet metal having a Hat body portion and a ilurality of projecting, teeth 32 in spaced relation to each other at each end of said body portion. Said teeth ice of the body portion of the brace plate an elongated slot 33-is formed. said slot being' adapted to fit over the shank of the corner boltl Adjacent the bottom edge of the body portion of the brace plate a pair of ears 34 are provided. Said ears are preferably struck up rearwardly from the body portion of the plate in spaced relation to the end portions thereof and, as shown in Fig. 5. serve to act as guides against the lateral displacement of the top plate of the bracing device.

The top plate of the bracing device, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, comprises a curved body portion 41 having an integral hook 42 formed at right angles thereto at its lower end and having a pair of inwardlyturned integral flanges 43, 44, at said upper edge. Said flanges arepreferably spaced from each other by means of a V-shaped slot 44'and each of the same has a flat bearing edge 43, 46, adapted to rest against the outer surface of the brace plate. At a point along the central line of the body portion of'the top plate, slightly above the center thereof, a hole 47 is provided through which the shank of the clamping bolt is passed after the brace plate has first been positioned thereover. A washer 48 and nut 49 are then secured to the screw threaded end of the corner bolt and the nut is turned until the teeth of the brace plate are engaged with the side frame members.

After a bracing device of either of the types heretofore described has been placed in each corner of an article of furniture, as shown in Fig. 1, the terminal portions 6 of the flexible members of the tensioning device are engaged over the hooks formed at the lower ends of each of the corner'plates. The turn-buckle is then manipulated so as to apply tension through the flexible members to the corner portions of the article of'furniture until a suflicient distance has been attained to give said article the necessary de gree of rigidity.

It is obvious that when an angle plate of the character shown in Fig. 6 is used on an article of furniture, such as a 'davenport or an elongated table, that the corner bolt. or the terminal element of the flexible member, in the event direct connection is made, will result in angular adjustment of said device about the supporting pin 28 positioned with in the cylindrical portion of the angle plate. The, elongated slots formed in the corner plates, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and the brace late, shown in Fig. 7 readily permits ateral movement of the eye bolt 27 when the samemust be iswnng'to one side when applied to a piece of furniture having an elongated frame. The ears 34 shown on the brace plate are spaceda sutliclent dlstance topermit adequate lateral movement of the top plate 41 when that type of corner brace is employed.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism=herein disclosed, pro vided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. 1

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a furnitureconstruction, the combination of a plurality of corner posts, main side frame members interposed between said posts, a pluralityof lever members secured adjacent the central plane of said side members to said respective corner posts, and means for applying 'tensionto one end of each of said lever members and moving its opposite end diagonally toward the adjacent side members.

2. Ina furniture construction, the combination of a plurality of corner posts, main 7 side frame members interposed between said posts, a bolt secured in diagonal relation to each post, a corner bracing device adjacent the inner side of each post adapted to be engaged over the adjacent bolt, a bearing memher formed at the upper end of each bracing device, and means associated with the lower ends of the respective bracing devices for moving-said ends inwardly. I

3. In a furniture construction, thecombie nation of a plurality of corner posts, main side frame members interposed between said posts, a bolt secured in diagonal relation to each post, a; corner bracing device adjacent the inner side of each post having a transverse slot adapted to be engaged over the adjacent bolt, a bearing member formed at the upper end of-each bracing device, and means associated with the lower ends of the respective bracing devices for moving said ends inwardly.

4. A furniture brace 'comprising a series of fixtures secured diagonally to the corners of an article of furniture and in pressure applying relation to the side members there- A of, a corner bolt for each of said fixtures securing the same to the corner posts, a central tensioning device, and means connecting said corner fixtures at points spaced from said bolts with said tensioning device in pressure applying relation thereto.

5. A furniture brace comprising a series of plates secured diagonally to the corners of an article of furniture and in pressure up plying relation to the side members thereof, a corner bolt for each of said plates securing the same to the er. posts, a central tensioning; device, and means Connecting said rorner plates at points spaced from said bolts with said tensioning device in pressure :qqplying relation thereto.

(3. A rorner plate for a furniture brace i-mnprising a body portion having down-- wardly invlined sides, a terminal section at comprising a cylindrical central portion adapted lo l'UCQlVQ a locking bolt, interlnedl ate GTilOllFi'lUIl plates continuous with said eylindrieal central portion and angularly related to earh other, said plates and central portionv being provided witlra transverse elot lo rereire the loop of a fastening device. and mlension flanges connected with. said 'interimaliale plates for securing said device to the side frame members of an article of :l'nrniture. i th nned by me, this 18th day of October,

THEODORE H. VITTLIFF.

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